The genre’s advent goes back the mid-1970s, when metal bands infused songs with high-speed riffs, but it was popularized in the early 1980s, when Metallica and Slayer released their first albums. They would become two of the so-called Big Four of thrash metal, the other two being Megadeth (founded by former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine) and Anthrax.

Anthrax made waves in the thrash-metal world when it reunited with long-time singer Joey Belladonna in 2010, then joined a Big Four world tour. (See accompanying story.)

In honor of the concept of a “Big Four” of any rock genre, The Star asked some local heavy metal aficionados, including about a dozen local musicians in hard-rock bands, to give us their top four bands, but we opened it up to the broader category of heavy-metal in general so that some of the forefathers of thrash metal could be honored. Here are their lists, with some comments included.

Stevie Cruz, vocalist, Hammerlord

Black Sabbath

Slayer

Metallica (pre-“Black” album)

Iron Maiden

“You would have no Slayer or Metallica without Motorhead; however I consider them more rock ’n’ roll For better and for worse, metal would not be what it is today without Pantera. Seeing “Cowboys From Hell” live changed my life, and that moment inspires me still.

“If we’re talking strictly ‘thrash’ (as I think they were doing with the Big Four tour), then I’d say they had it halfway right with Metallica and Slayer. But you could replace the other two with Kreator and Destruction, although I do love Anthrax and ‘Megadave.’ Death Angel rules, too. We got to play with them last year, and they still thrash hard.”

Keenan Nichols, guitarist, the Architects

Motorhead

Black Sabbath

Judas Priest

Iron Maiden

Steve Tulipana, guitarist, Roman Numerals and Season to Risk

“I don’t think I could ever pick just four. I’d guess Keenan’s list is probably closest to what I’d consider the biggest, most successful of the heavies, and the ones I listen to the most. I’d say AC/DC is fairly metal but definitely not in the Anthrax way. I’d put Black Flag in the metal category first. Particularly the later records. So my oddball choices would be Black Flag, Mind Over Four, Slayer and Cradle of Filth, because they are hilarious.”

Gregg Todt, vocalist/guitarist, Federation of Horsepower

Black Sabbath

Motorhead

Judas Priest

Rainbow

Jim Kilroy, promoter

Black Sabbath

Dio

Deep Purple

Iron Maiden

Robert Moore, host of ‘Sonic Spectrum’ on 96.5 FM

Judas Priest

Iron Maiden

Motorhead

Pentagram

“AC/DC is hard rock, in my opinion, as is Rainbow. Otherwise I’d include AC/DC and Rose Tattoo. … I was also considering Entombed.”

Mike Alexander, guitarist, Hipshot Killer

Black Sabbath

Judas Priest

Slayer

Mind Over Four

Brandon Phillips, singer/guitarist, the Architects

Iron Maiden

Anthrax

Slayer

Pantera

Brett Southard, drummer, Cherokee Rock Rifle

Pantera

Slayer

Iron Maiden

Black Sabbath

Johnny Hamil, bassist, Mr. Marco’s V7 (and other bands)

“Metal or speed/thrash? The Big Four of metal: Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest. I’ll just give three; all others are still below them. The Big Four of speed metal: Metallica (before they sold out), Slayer, Anthrax and Motorhead. Possibly Megadeth as a fifth or throw Metallica out for the ‘Black’ album (I still have feelings of betrayal). Testament and Death Angel are great speed-metal bands, too. It’s really quite the bill.”

Troy Van Horn, guitarist, the Depth and the Whisper

Iron Maiden

Fates Warning

Candlemass

Napalm Death

“The Big Four are the big four for good reason. I spent years following those groups and eventually drifted away. So my personal Big Four consists of bands I still find fascinating, that I listen to with more than just nostalgia, though that is certainly a factor.”

Ty Scott, guitarist, Hammerlord

Metallica

Megadeth

Slayer

Anthrax

“There is only one Big Four. Not up for discussion.”

Terry Taylor, bassist, Hammerlord

“ ‘Big’ is really up to perception and personal preference. If I look at the Big Four of my life, it would have to be: Kiss (’70s era); Metallica (everything before the ‘Black’ album — not that it’s a bad album; just that the older stuff had much more of an impact on my life); the Misfits (not really metal but depends how you categorize; I am sure I will get some groans about that one but I am sticking to my guns); and Slayer (I celebrate their whole catalog).”

Mike Stover, multi-instrumentalist, several bands

Megadeth

Anthrax

Death Angel

Voivod

“In high school I was an unabashed thrash-metal freak. Of course, there are more well-known bands who laid the groundwork for the groups I’ve listed. But when I think back to a time when I was listening almost exclusively to metal, these were my favorites.”

Scott Reed, guitarist, Cherokee Rock Rifle

AC/DC

Corrosion of Conformity

Metallica

Killswitch Engage

“I may get chewed up for this, but for me, it’s those bands.”

Doug Kentworthy, bassist, Load Point Pull

Judas Priest: "I feel they really embraced the title 'heavy metal,' and they continue to fly the flag high with no apologies.Pantara: "Another band that is truly 'metal.' No B.S. Just loud and proud."Rob Zombie: "I love the way he took metal and mashed it with loops, dance beats and spooky movie clips."Marilyn Manson: "I believe he brought back the big show and rockstar attitude that metal is know for. Plus every parent hates him. That's so metal."